SF Tech Week: A Week of Hustle, Learning & Connections

SF Tech Week for me felt like a nonstop hustle. I must have attended close to 15 events from Monday to Sunday spanning mornings to evenings. I met people from all over the world East Asia, the Middle East, South America you name it, I probably connected with someone from that region & all united by a shared interest in AI and technology.

SF Tech Week is a major event where tech enthusiasts, innovators & professionals come together to explore the latest advancements in technology, networking and share insights. As someone passionate about cybersecurity, I made it a point to attend as many events as possible to expand my network and knowledge in these fields."

Some events felt familiar, while others were refreshingly new experiences such as the Tech Walk with Qapita at the Golden Gate Park.

I showed up at the park expecting a large crowd and sure enough, I spotted what seemed to be the group. A large gathering of people was moving together, so I power walked to catch up. On my way, I noticed a gentleman looking around with the same puzzled look I had when I first began attending networking events. "Hey, are you looking for the Luma group?" I asked. He replied, "Yes, I am," in a thick accent. "Nice to meet you, I'm Lamere," I introduced myself, as I always do when meeting someone new.

This Tech Walk offered something unique i thought, a casual stroll through Golden Gate Park with impactful conversations, connecting with tech enthusiasts in a relaxed environment. It was a refreshing change from the usual coffee shops or conference room setting.

The next morning, I attended the Gov/Tech SF event. I had the chance to see "Spot the robot dog" from Boston Dynamics in action, along with other cutting edge technologies like autonomous cleaning robots. What intrigued me most was the panel discussion, which included cybersecurity experts with PhDs discussing the future of AI in public sector security.. It was during this event that an idea for a startup came to me. If and when I decide to move forward with it, you all will be the first to know. Between panel discussions, I visited booths eager to learn more about AI services, technology offerings and cybersecurity tools. Toward the end of the event, I had the chance to introduce myself to cybersecurity specialists, exchanging contact information.

As the week went on, I attended more and more events, meeting countless individuals and expanding my network exponentially. By Sunday, I was feeling the effects of networking fatigue but ended the week on a high note with a coffee meetup, reflecting on all the valuable connections I’d made.

For those looking to expand their networks with coffee meetups and walks in the park attending events like SF Tech Week is a must. Whether you’re walking through a park or chatting with a robotics specialist, there’s always something to learn and someone new to meet. This allowed for more genuine, memorable connections a balance that I’ll prioritize in future networking events.

SF Tech Week was a complete success in my book, and I look forward to next year's event, where I hope to meet even more interesting people. To everyone I met during the week, it was a pleasure and I look forward to continuing this journey.